Bundesliga duo Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund reportedly want to sign David Bates, months after he left Scottish Premiership giants Rangers for free.
David Bates certainly caused a stir when he departed Rangers on a free transfer in the summer.
The highly-rated defender moved to Ibrox on a permanent basis from Raith Rovers in January 2017 and established himself as a first-team regular under Greame Murty in the second half of last season.
But, according to the Daily Record, Rangers were simply unwilling to match his £7,500 a week demands. As a result, Bates moved to Germany on a free transfer, joining a Hamburg side who had suffered the first relegation in their history just weeks earlier.
Though after just eight league appearances for Hamburg, Bates is showing the kind of form which suggests Rangers made a big mistake not bowing down to his demands.
The 22-year-old has wasted no time in establishing himself as a firm fans favourite in Germany. And, according to TEAMtalk, his meteoric rise has caught the eye of Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
Premier League clubs are also interested with Arsenal, Southampton, Everton, Leicester and Watford all keen on the Scotland U21 international.
But should Bates seal a quite remarkable move to Bayern or Dortmund, leaving Rangers could begin to look like a truly inspired decision. Because the in-demand centre-back already appears to have made huge strides in a new environment.
Hamburg, rather than Rangers, could have been the making of young David Bates.
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